"Captain, what's our next mission?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Once again, his simple request was rejected — damn those ANBU rules.
Yorimitsu followed Captain Ling to a small dock where they waited for several days until their target arrived — a team of Uzumaki shinobi, led by none other than Uzumaki Youjia, an acquaintance.
When Youjia saw the fox mask, she visibly relaxed. "Captain Ling, Fox. I didn't expect it to be you two. Where's Kakugyu?"
"Kakugyu sacrificed himself gathering intel on the Cloud-nin," Ling replied flatly.
Youjia's expression dimmed with guilt. "I'm sorry. Konoha's sacrifices for us — we'll never forget them."
"Konoha and Uzumaki are allies. It's what we should do," said Ling, surprisingly warm for once.
The two squads worked together — Youjia's team was tasked with sealing a powerful rogue ninja beast.
When the Uzumaki left to scout, Ling turned to Yorimitsu and said, "Fox, use Youjia's trust to get close to her. During battle, stay within two steps of her. Your real objective is the Adamantine Chains Scroll. If necessary, kill Uzumaki Youjia and frame the Cloud-nin."
"Understood, Captain."
At a small lakeside, Youjia directed her three teammates to set up traps — each one with explosive tags buried beneath layers of steel netting. From the setup, Yorimitsu could tell they planned to blast the nets upward.
Once everything was ready, they hid among the trees by the lake.
Yorimitsu lay prone in the bushes, not far from Youjia's hiding spot — only to find her crawling over to him.
The two lay side by side, hidden by the thick leaves, silently watching the calm surface of the lake.
Battle between ordinary shinobi wasn't as grand as fights between Kage-level masters. Most of the time, it was just patient waiting and silent ambush.
Each ninja had their own way to survive — especially the weak, who needed to be cautious above all else.
"Fox," Youjia whispered, "can you tell me your name?"
"Sorry, I can't."
Her eyes flickered with brief disappointment, but she quickly smiled. "I understand. You're Senju's spy within ANBU, right? You can't risk it."
Yorimitsu stayed silent — neither confirming nor denying, which only deepened her misunderstanding.
He searched his memory; he'd seen Senju clan members back at the academy — the clan that once claimed they'd revive the glory of the Second Hokage. Every child shouted about becoming Hokage… especially Senju Nawaki.
If he shouted he'd be Hokage, people took it seriously. If Yorimitsu shouted it, no one cared. Some people were just born different.
"Youjia, what are you trying to capture?" he asked.
"The Spear Heron — a rare flying beast," she whispered. "Every Uzumaki ninja can make a contract with a summoning beast. Our sealing techniques aren't strong alone, but once paired with special summons, our strength leaps forward."
Yorimitsu couldn't help feeling envious. The legendary summons of the Sannin could each crush a jōnin — no wonder everyone envied them.
He glanced sideways, through the leaves — Captain Ling was hidden high in the trees, mask half-shaded, eyes narrowed, watching Youjia's every move.
Yorimitsu waited for a long time, but the captain's focus never shifted. He couldn't act yet.
The humid ground was alive with insects crawling over his arms. Youjia squirmed slightly to shake them off — the motion revealing a glimpse of pale skin beneath her neckline.
Yorimitsu averted his eyes, raising his mask slightly to cover them, keeping his focus on Ling.
Time passed. He chewed two soldier pills and stayed still until sunset.
As darkness fell, a black speck appeared in the distance, flying toward the lake at terrifying speed.
"It's here! The Spear Heron's returning to its nest!"
It was a massive bird, over three meters long, with a sharp, meter-long beak — its slim body built for deadly dives.
When Ling's attention shifted toward the heron, Yorimitsu whispered, "Youjia, do you have any poison needles?"
"Poison needles? Yes!"
She handed him one. Yorimitsu didn't know any poison techniques and lacked venom — but to deal with Captain Ling, poison was essential.
He coated his kunai with a hemostatic agent, then slipped the poison into the vial.
To Youjia, his actions made no sense. A kunai coated with medicine? Stop the bleeding while cutting?
Just then, explosions erupted — the traps went off, flinging steel nets into the air. One of them tangled around the Spear Heron's wing.
Ignoring Yorimitsu's strange behavior, Youjia leapt from hiding to seize the opportunity.
Seeing her rush out, Ling's focus was fully diverted — Yorimitsu quickly mixed the poison into the remaining vial. Everything was ready. All he needed was a single opening.
Following orders, Yorimitsu also dashed out.
The heron, grounded by the net, thrashed wildly. Its beak — as sharp as a spear — pierced a ninja's thigh clean through.
It was terrifying to imagine the damage it could do in a dive.
Its neck whipped like a whip-spear, lunging and retracting nonstop — no one dared get close.
"I'll handle it!"
Youjia jumped forward, forming seals — Cursed Seal of Retribution!
The sealing marks crawled up the bird's legs, wings, and neck, locking it down. The heron trembled violently but was subdued.
"This will take a while," she said, catching her breath. "We have to exhaust it completely before performing the summoning contract."
Yorimitsu glanced up — Ling was still hiding, not intervening.
After a long struggle, Youjia finally overpowered the heron. The beast's eyes softened, pleading for mercy.
Seeing the moment was right, Youjia pulled out a scroll strapped to her thigh — the Adamantine Chains Scroll!
But just then, chaos struck — two hidden Cloud-nin squads burst out from the trees!
They wanted the scroll — to study the Uzumaki sealing arts.
Forced to defend herself, Youjia had to release the Cursed Seal binding the heron.
The beast collapsed weakly, wings twitching.
Youjia was drenched in sweat — her tight outfit clinging to her body.
The Cloud-nin charged. Their captain instantly slashed down one of Youjia's comrades.
Yorimitsu stepped in front of Youjia, blocking a sword strike.
Finally, Captain Ling leapt from the trees, engaging a Cloud-nin in combat — but despite his power, he fought evenly.
Yorimitsu instantly realized — Ling was pretending. Deliberately holding back.
If the captain was slacking off, so could he.
He feigned weakness, retreating as a Cloud-nin's blade nearly gutted him — exposing Youjia behind him.
Youjia raised the scroll — originally meant for sealing beasts, now to defend herself.
Ling suddenly shouted, "Grab it!"
The command was directed at Yorimitsu. ANBU also wanted that scroll intact.
Yorimitsu turned, swung his kunai — and plunged it into Uzumaki Youjia's abdomen.